In a fiery post on our Facebook page, a passionate reader asked why the Bath Chronicle was “completely intent on destroying” the hospital by writing “negative” stories.

The reader went on to ask why we hadn’t covered a march on Downing Street last month to protest the demise of the NHS.

“The media ‘as a whole’ is responsible for helping the demise of the NHS,” Baz Harding-Clark wrote.

“Before you start to focus on the next negative story to attack the RUH, spare a thought for the thousands of staff who work harder each day, who give up their days off to cover sickness or to fill the empty gaps of employment.

“Also spare a thought to those in need, those patients who read your negative comments and fear the worst and avoid coming to the RUH, when they actually need urgent & non urgent treatment."

Mr Harding-Clark wrote on the Chronicle's Facebook page

Mr Harding-Clark’s post on our paper's Facebook page was liked nearly 300 times and drew more than 54 comments, almost all enthusiastically supporting his appeal for the paper to “support the RUH, don’t help destroy it”.

I admit that, as the health reporter for the Chronicle, I was at first angry at what felt like a personal attack.

Angry, because I care about the NHS. Angry, because I work extremely hard to highlight how Government underfunding is undermining local NHS services, and angry because the positive stories that I do write about the hospital are not well read.

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Winter crisis hits the RUH

So, in response, I posted the following: “Let me explain, first of all, why we report ‘negative’ stories about the RUH.

“As you are all well aware, the NHS is in crisis. As the local newspaper, we have a duty to report how this crisis is affecting the local hospital, in terms of A&E waiting times, operation cancellations, and staffing, etc.

“We also have a duty to report on issues such as norovirus outbreaks to remind the general public not to visit the hospital if they have had the virus recently.

“Whenever I report on data illustrating the issue, I request a statement from the hospital so that they are able to explain some of the wider issues, which I also explain.

“The intention is not to ‘destroy’ the hospital, but to do our bit to inform our community about the local impact of a national issue.

“The more stories that appear in regional newspapers across the country, the more pressure is heaped on the Government to do something.

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“Secondly, we did not report on the London demonstration as our job is to report on local news. Baz Harding-Clark's post is the first time anyone has contacted us about the involvement of RUH staff or Bath residents in the march.

“If any staff or residents who participated in the demonstration would like to contact me to describe why they went on the march and what it was like, could they please email me at amanda.cameron@bathchron.co.uk or call me on 01225 322204.

“Thirdly, let me describe the efforts I've made recently in an attempt to describe the wonderful work of our RUH staff.

(Image: iStock / Getty Images Plus / fivepointsix)

“I've been trying to convince RUH management since December to let the Chronicle in to A&E to see what goes on at the coalface.

“To date, despite several conversations and emails, I'm no closer to getting in the door.

“I also put a call-out on social media for any hard working RUH doctors and nurses to get in touch with me so that I can tell their story to our readers. I have had no response yet.

(Image: Artur Lesniak)

“I have also been in discussions with a nurse at the RUH, specifically with the intention of describing the positive side of life in the NHS, but the person in question is reluctant to go on the record.

“If any of you in this thread are staff at the RUH, particularly if you are nurses or doctors, please get in touch. I'd love to hear from you! Best wishes, Amanda Cameron 01225 322204 amanda.cameron@bathchron.co.uk”.

Sadly, rather than prompting people to share their positive stories with us, the conversation simply drew more criticism of the “RUH bashing Bath Chron”.

(Image: Artur Lesniak)

To date, no one has contacted me to share their positive stories and we are still no closer to bringing you a description of life in the A&E.

But I do understand that people are reticent to come forward and that hospital employees do not feel they can talk freely to the media.

And I completely get people’s frustration at reading negative headlines about the hospital they know and love.

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These “negative” stories are important, however. The rash of stories I wrote over the Christmas period that no-doubt prompted Mr Harding-Clark’s post illustrated how the NHS winter crisis was playing out at the local hospital.

The stories about cancelled operations, ‘black alerts’ and norovirus outbreaks were also well read, suggesting that you thought they were important as well.

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